Leeds United: BBC pundit wowed by what ‘Cracking’ Mateo Joseph did v Plymouth Argyle
Matthew Upson was impressed by Mateo Joseph’s performance as the 20-year-old starred in a Leeds United 4-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday 6 February.
The former Espanyol B striker was given the nod by Daniel Farke to lead the line, picked over the likes of Georginio Rutter, Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt who were all on the bench.
Joseph completed 81 minutes in the FA Cup fixture and was unlucky not to score his first senior goal for Leeds, rocketing an effort against the post after just 13 minutes.
“Cracking piece of centre-forward play from Mateo Joseph. Some real nice strength there,” Upson said live on BBC One (6 February, 8:00pm)
Exciting Leeds United prospect
Despite not being able to make the net bulge for the first time in his senior Leeds career, it is clear that the Whites have unearthed an incredible gem.
Above Gelhardt in Farke’s pecking order and a different option to Bamford from the bench, this season could be the breakout campaign Joseph needed at Elland Road.
The young prospect has already done more to impress than Gelhardt this season, a player who was heavily linked with a move away from Elland Road during the January transfer window due to his lack of minutes under Farke.
It is unlikely that Farke will risk leaving out Joel Piroe or Rutter in the Championship season, with Premier League promotion very much on the line, but cup competitions are a great opportunity for Joseph.
The 20-year-old took his chance against Plymouth on Tuesday by the scruff of the neck. Farke will be left with no choice but to start him in more games in the second half of the season, with his pace, strength and ability on the ball exactly what was expected of him, and more.
This screams bad news for Gelhardt, with the young man’s competition pushing him even further away from a sixth start of the campaign.
In other Leeds United news, Georginio Rutter was wowed by the fans against Plymouth.
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